Container closure



Jan. 5, 1954 M, MIGNEAULT 2,665,023

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Sept. 28, 1950 v VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19.54

UNITED- OFFICE 2,655,023 CONTA-INERIQCLOSURE MauricefMigneault, Nashua, NDH.' unicam September 28, 19.59 Seam. .lana

This. invention. 4relates .to .a closure member,

anol more .particularly to. a .capi for closingaoh' sealing, .a bottle..

The r`objectvof the. invention; is; to prei/.ide a.

bottle closurewor. cap. whichcanizbe. readilyl `.ap-1 plied to .orxremoved froma. container, suuhzas a. bottle containing-afsuitable liquid..`

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottlestopper or closureJ which includes -a novelmeans for-Ysecurely"V holding: the closure on the bottle until the user desires to dispense the contents of the bottle, the closure of the present invention adapted to be readily removed from the bottle by the ngers without requiring the use of a bottle opener or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle cap which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which like numerals are used tc designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the cap of the present invention applied to the neck of a bottle;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modified closure member;

Figure 6 is an elevational view showing of the portion of the retaining strap or ring for the assembly of Figures 1 through 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'I-I of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings, the numeral Ii) designates the neck of a suitable receptacle, container or bottle, and the container may hold any beverage, such as beer, whiskey or soda water. The neck IU includes an upper annular bead II, Figure 3, and the bead deiines therebelow an annular indentation or recess I2.

The closure member of the present invention includes a circular disc I4 which may be made of any suitable material, such as cork, and the disc I4 extends across the open top of the neck It. Extending across the disc I4 is a body portion I5 which forms part of the cap of the prestaken on the line ent-inganna. extendn-frm--uenoay portion.- I 5i is ha, plu lity, of; suaeedngers ILS; the ,spaces or-,slitjs Ib Ween thenngersft ,being in,iii/"ddr2d4 used; tolbse. a brittle.,

Flery maintaining; the shoulders H. Seated in the indentation, i,2',a,.suitable,retaining ring ,Zil.

is provided. The retaining yring may befmade of any suitable material, such as plastic or spring metal, and the ends of the retaining ring 2i) are spaced from each other, as best seen in Figure 1. The retaining ring 2i) carries or is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed snap latches 2 I, Figure 4, and the snap latches 2l are adapted to seat in suitable sockets 22 which are arranged in the exterior of certain of the fingers I6. Thus, when the snap latches 2| are seated in the sockets 22, the retaining ring 20 will be maintained immobile, and also the fingers I6 will be maintained in the solid line position shown in Figure 3. When the cap is to be removed, the user need onlyl manually disengage the snap latches 2I from the brackets 22, so that the retaining ring '20 can be removed and then the members I5 and discs I4 can also be removed so that the contents of the bottle can be readily dispensed.

In Figures 5 and '7, there is shown a slightly modified closure assembly, wherein the ngers I6 are maintained against the neck of the bottle by means of a retaining ring 23. The retaining ring 23 is in the form of an endless strip of plastic or spring metal which circumposes or surrounds the exterior surface of the ngers I6 so as to maintain the shoulders Il seated in the indentation I2, whereby accidental opening of the bottle will be prevented. When the user desires to dispense the contents of the bottle which is equipped with the closure of Figures 5 and 7, the user merely disengages the retaining band 23 from the ngers IS so that the discs I4 and member I5 can be removed from the bottle.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a closure is provided which is especially suitable for bottles of beverages and the like. The closure of the present invention can be readily applied to the bottle or removed from the bottle without requiring the use of any tools or openers. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 through 4, the retaining ring 2li maintains the 3 shoulders l'l seated in the indentation l2, so that accidental opening of the closure is prevented. The latches 2l seat in the sockets 22 to further prevent accidental movement or these parts. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 7, the continuous retaining ring 23 is Wrapped around or extended around the ngers I6 to maintain the shoulders I1 in the indentation I2.

The parts of the closure can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal. The closures can be applied by hand or by a suitable machine. The retaining ring is preferably fabricated of a material having high degree of resiliency.

I claim:

In a closure for a receptacle having a neck provided with an annular bead defining an annular indentation, a disc extending across the top of said neck, said disc being made of yieldable material, a cap including a horizontally disposed body portion extending across said disc and across the open end of the receptacle, said cap further including a skirt portion provided with a plurality of slits forming a plurality of spaced fingers extending downwardly from said body portion, the inner face of each of said ngers being provided with a downwardly converging surface intersecting a downwardly dverging surface therebelow forming inwardly extending shoulders for seating in said indentation, said shoulders being arranged r intermediate the ends of said lingers, a resilient retaining ring extending around the exterior of said fingers at the lower portions thereof, said ring being arranged below said shoulders, there being a pair of diametrically opposed sockets arranged in the exterior surface of certain of said ngers, and a pair of snap latches carried by said ring for seating in said sockets, the ends of said ring being spaced from each other, said snap latches extending outwardly from said ring.

MAURICE MIGNEAULT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 259,815 Carmien June 20, 1882 662,812 Perry Nov. 27, 1900 824,341 Cordes June 26, 1906 886,619 Lundquist May 5, 1908 1,341,177 Kaye May 25, 1920 1,619,136 Knowles Mar. 1, 1927 1,705,895 Blair Mar. 19, 1929 1,713,676 Rose May 21, 1929 1,985,258 Mauser Dec. 25, 1934 2,339,343 Magnesen Jan. 18, 1944 2,398,554 Nyden Apr. 16, 1946 2,414,529 Ives Jan. 21, 1947 2,421,356 Saiady May 27, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 271,778 Great Britain June 2, 1927 

